Multi-page signatures and apparatus and method for producing same

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds minimizes the formation of wrinkles at the intersection of the folds and provides for efficient folding by forming a plurality of slits in a portion of the sheet material along one of the fold lines. The slits are formed adjacent to a cross fold line in the material which is at right angles to a subsequently formed longitudinal fold line in the material. The slits are angled to the cross fold line and terminate before passing across the cross fold line. The slits preferably are located on opposite sides of the cross fold line, and the slits on one side of the cross fold line are staggered with respect to the slits on the other side of the cross fold line.

451 Oct. 22, 1974 MULTI-PAGE SIGNATURES AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME Robert II. Schaffer, Mystic, Conn.

Assignee: Harris-Intertype Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 Appl. No.: 385,983

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. l6l,758, July 12, 1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 27,568, April 13, 1970, abandoned.

Inventor:

U.S. Cl 270/61, 270/21, 281/38 Int. Cl B65h 45/00 Field of Search 270/41-42,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1956 Baker 270/85 3,228,710 1/1966 Chodorowski 270/61 X Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Assistant Examiner-A. Heinz 5 7] ABSTRACT A method and an apparatus for producing a multipage signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds minimizes the formation of wrinkles at the intersection of the folds and provides for efficient folding by forming a plurality of slits in a portion of the sheet material along one of the fold lines. The slits are formed adjacent to a cross fold line in the material which is at right angles to a subsequently formed longitudinal fold line in the material. The slits are angled to the cross fold line and terminate before passing across the .cross fold line. The slits preferably are located on opposite sides of the cross fold line, and the slits on one side of the cross fold line are staggered with respect to the slits on the other side of the cross fold line.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENT'EDnmz m4 3.84 31 13 sum ear 2 5 V a. FIGZ 50 4601 FIG. 6

/ 7/////////// HQ 7 lA/VEA/TOR HG 8 ROBE/P7 SC'HAFFER ATTORNEYS MULTI-PAGE SIGNATURES AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 161,758, filed July 12, 1971, now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 27,568 also abandoned, covering Method and Apparatus for Producing a Multi-Page Signature Product filed Apr. 13, 1970, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus forproducing a multi-page signature product and to the multi-page product itself, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a multi-page signature product are known. One such apparatus and method is shown in Baker, U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,448, and another is shown in Chodorowski, U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,710. The Baker patent discloses a method and an apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product wherein slits are made in the material and extend across a fold which extends at right angles to a longitudinal fold in the material. The Chodorowski patent also discloses slits which extend across a fold line which extends at right angle to a longitudinal fold in the material. These techniques of the prior art where the slits extend across a fold line are based on the theory that due to the slits, portions of the material may move relatively to thereby eliminate gussets of wrinkles which may occur inthe material at the intersection of the folds.

When a multi-page signature product, such as a booklet or leaflet, is manufactured, it is extremely undersirable to have wrinkles or gussets in the folded product. When such wrinkles or gussets are present, the multi-pagesignature product is not aesthetically pleasing,'and, in addition, the amount of trim available will not'remove the gusset. These problems are particularly accentuated when producing a multi-page product from a plurality of superimposed webs of sheet-like material which are folded. The immediate invention provides a multi-page signature product which substantially avoids the problems of wrinkles or gussets at the intersection of fold lines. This is effected by providing slits which extend along, but not through, one of the fold lines.

Accordingly, the present invention does not require that the slits extend across any fold line, as is required by the afore-mentioned prior art. By providing such slitting, the fold line of the signature is not interrupted by spaced slits and, accordingly, the folded edge of the signature can be very effectively used to engage a stop for registry purposes; whereas, the folded edge of the prior art signatures, which edge is interrupted by slits, is not as strong relatively, and accordingly, has a greater tendency to buckle when so used. This is particularly important where the signature is chopper folded after cross folding and, in the process, the cross folded edge thereof engages a registry stop.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds wherein a cross fold is disposed at right angles to a longitudinal fold, and which method and apparatus substantially minimize the formation of wrinkles in the sheet material where the fold lines intersect by the provision of slits which are located along the cross fold, but which slits do not pass through the cross fold so that the cross fold line is continuous and not interrupted by slits.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product having a plurality of in tersecting folds wherein a cross fold is disposed at right angles to the line of a longitudinal fold and wherein the apparatus includes means for forming slits in a portion of the material adjacent to the line of the cross fold, and which slits are angled relative to the cross fold line, but do not intersect the cross fold line.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for producing a multipage signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds including a cross fold disposed at right angles to a longitudinal fold and which apparatus minimizes the formation of wrinkles in the sheet material where the fold lines intersect by providing slits in the material adjacent to the line of the cross fold, which slits comprise a first series of angled slits on one side of the cross fold line and a second series of angled slits on the other side of the cross fold line, and wherein the slits of both series are angled the same with respect to the cross fold line and the slits in one series are staggered relative to the slits in the other series.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the sheet material after having slits formed therein;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating slits formed in the sheet material in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of the multi-page product formed by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a modified embodiment of the present invention wherein material is provided with slits of a different arrangement.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a multi-page signature product having a plurality of intersecting folds wherein a cross fold is disposed at rightangles to the line of a longitudinal fold. The present invention avoids the formation of wrinkles at the intersection of the fold lines by providing slits adjacent to the cross fold line prior to the longitudinal fold being made. The present invention may be applied to different methods and apparatuses for producing a multi-page product and for purposes of illustration is described in the drawings as applied to an apparatus 10, as shown schematically in FIG. 1.

The apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, produces the multi-page signature product 12 shown in FIG. 6. The apparatus 10 forms the signature 12 from a plurality of superimposed webs A, B, C which are brought together by a pair of guide rolls l4.

The apparatus includes slitting means 20, for receiving the webs after they pass through the rolls 14. The slitting means forms slits 22, as seen in FIG. 4, in the webs. The slits 22 are located adjacent a line 24 which represents a cross fold line in the material.

The apparatus 10 also includes a cutoff mechanism and folding means incorporated in cylinders 32, 34 which receive the webs after slitting thereof. The cylinder 32 has impaling pins 36 which grip the leading edge of the webs received from the slitting means 26. The impaling pins 36 carry the web around the peripheral surface of the cylinder 32 until a tucker blade 38 on the cylinder 32 tucks the sheet material into a jaw or gripper means 40 on cylinder 34. The sheet material is then carried around the cylinder 34 by jaw 40 and the leading edge of the material is stripped from the impaling pins 36.

When the jaw 40 has carried the sheet material around a circumferential portion of the cylinder 34, a cutter blade 42 on the cylinder 34 cuts off thewebs transversely above a line 28, shown in FIG; 4. The tucker blade 38 and jaw 40 cooperate to effect the cross folding of the material along the cross fold line 24, as should be apparent. Successive leading edges of the material are created by operation of the cutter blade 42, and the operations continue so that a succession of signatures are formed.

The signatures are released from the jaw 40 and are then conveyed by suitable belt-type conveyors into a chopper folder mechanism 43. The chopper folder mechanism includes registry stops 44 against which the cross folded edge 24a of the signature abuts. A chopper folder blade 45 moves vertically relative to the signature to form a second fold (longitudinal fold in the signature) along fold line 46 to provide a folded edge 46a. The chopper folder blade 45 forces the signature downwardly into the nip of a pair of rolls 47 and this action effects the folding of the signature along the line 46.

The signatures are moving at extremely high speed when they enter the chopper folder, and it is extremely important that registry be provided therein. One registry problem that occurs in the chopper folder is that the signatures tend to bounce back from the registry stops 44, and by timing of the chopper blade, the signature can be slowed by engagement with the chopper blade before the signature hits the stops 44. Another registry problem is buckling of the signatures, and if the folded edge 24a of the signature is too weak it may buckle.

It should be understood that the number of webs delivered to the apparatus can be varied and adjustments and modifications to the apparatus can be made to provide many variations in the signature produced thereby. It should also be understood that the apparatus 10 is of a conventional nature except for the slitting means'20 for forming the specific slits 22 to be described below, and accordingly a more detailed description thereof is not believed necessary.

In accordance with the present invention, the slitting means 20, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a first cylinder 48 and a second cylinder 50. The second cylinder 50 has a number of knives 52 extending from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 50. The cylinders 48 and 50 are drivingly connected by means of the gears 54, 56 such that they rotate in opposite directions at the same rotational speed. The cylinders 48, 50 are driven by a gear 60 which meshes with gear 54, and the gear 60 is driven by a suitable drive means in timed relation to the remainder of the apparatus 10.

The gear 54 on the cylinder 48 of the slitting means 20 is adjustably connected to the cylinder 48 such that the timing of the cylinder 48 with respect to the cylinder 50 may be adjusted. This adjustment is necessary to provide alignment between the indentation pad 58 on the cylinder 48 with respect to the knives 52 on the cylinder 50. Thus, when the webs pass through the slitting means 20, the slits 22, as seen in FIG. 4, will be formed along the fold line 24. The slits 22 are shown throughout the drawings exaggerated in size, for purposes of illustration only.

The knives 52 are oriented such that the slits 22 extend at an angle to the cross fold line 24, but do not pass through or intersect the fold line 24. It should be understood that, when the slits 22 are formed in the webs the webs have not been chopper folded along line 46, and the slits 22 are formed on both sides of the fold line 46 with the slits on one side being the mirror image of the slits on the other side of the fold line 46.

The enlarged view of the slits 22 shown in FIG. 5 is taken after the slits are formed. As shown in FIG. 4 and in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the slits 22 on one side of the fold line 46 comprise a first series of slits which are formed on one side of the fold line 24 and a second series of slits which are formed on the other side of the fold line 24. The series of slits formed on one side of the fold line 24 extend at an acute angle to the fold line 24, as do the slits on the other side of the fold line 24. The slits on one side of the fold line 24 extend relative to the fold line 24 at an angle which is identical to the angle at which the slits on the other side of the cross fold line 24 extend to the fold line 24. Accordingly, the slits on the two sides of the cross fold line 24 are parallel.

Moreover, it should be clear from the drawing in FIG. 4 that all the slits 22 terminate short of the fold line 24. Accordingly, when the sheet material is folded along the fold line 24, edge 24a of the signature is formed and is continuous or an uninterrupted edge. This is best viewed in FIG. 6 wherein the folded edge 24a of the sheet material is not interrupted by any slits 22 which extend thereacross. This provides an advan tage in the formation of the signatures by chopper folding after cross folding. This is due to the fact that the folded edge 24a of the signature is continuous and uninterrupted and therefore the edge has a substantial strength as opposed to a folded edge which has slits which extend thereacross. In view of the fact that the slits do not extend across the fold line and that the fold line is uninterrupted, the continuous edge 24a is extremely suitable for use as a registry edge and may be fed into engagement with the stops 44 in a chopper folder 43 with a minimum tendency of the sheet material to buckle when it hits the stoos 44. In addition, it should be readily apparent from the drawings that the slits 22 on one side of the cross fold line 24 are staggered with respect to the slits on the other side of the cross fold line 24. Accordingly, there is no continuous slit which extends from one side of the fold line to the other side, or the equivalent thereof.

The functioning or theory of operation of the slits 22 to prevent the gusseting at the intersection of the fold lines 46, 24 centers around the fact that they allow for relative movement to occur between portions of the material, and also allow for entrapped air to escape. Portions of the signature on opposite sides of the cross fold line 24 are free to move relatively due to the slits, and such relative movement results in a pivoting of sections of the material between adjacent slits 22 which causes openings of substantial area to be formed to allow for air escape. in addition, substantial relative movement can occur which, in and of itself, substantially minimizes the gusseting.

The knives 52 which form the slits of the present invention may be of any conventional construction and will not be described in detail. The knives may comprise a pair of knives which may be secured to the cylinder 50, with the blades on one knife staggered with respect to the blades on the other knife, but will all blades being parallel. A suitable shim can be utilized to separate the knives so that the slits formed thereby do not cross the fold line 24.

Accordingly, the slits 22 allow the sheet material to be folded along the line of the cross fold 24 such that the formation of wrinkles in the sheet material where the lines of the folds 46 and 24 intersect is minimized. it should be understood that, when a plurality of webs are fed through the apparatus 10, the slits 22 are formed entirely through all of the webs to obtain the desired results.

The modified embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is similar in all respects to that described hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 1-6, except the particular configuration of the slits. formed in the sheet material varies. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, slits 22a are formed in the plurality of superimposed webs. The slits 22a include a first series of slits which are formed on one side of the cross fold line 24b and a second series of slits which are formed on the other side of the cross fold line 24b. The slits which are located on one side of the fold line 24b do not extend parallel to the slits which are formed on the other side of the fold line 24b. The slits which are formed on one side of the fold line 24b are angled to the fold line 24b at the same angle as are the slits formed on the other side of the fold line 24b. However, in this embodiment, the slits on the two sides of the fold line 24b as they extend toward the fold line 24b converge toward each other.

It should be apparent from the above that applicant has provided a substantial improvement in the art to which the present invention relates, and certain modifi cations, changes and adaptations can be made therein and it is intended to cover all such modifications, changes and adaptations which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of producing a multi-page sheet material product comprising the steps of:

advancing unslit sheet material to a slitting station,

forming a first transverse row of short, closely spaced parallel slits in the sheet material, which slits are angled to the direction of advance of the sheet material with first ends of the slits in the material lying on a first line transverse to the direction of advance of the material,

leaving a longitudinally extending unslit area adjacent the first tranverse line,

forming a continuous fold in the unslit area of the sheet material closely adjacent to and spaced from the first ends of the slits,

said step of forming a continuous fold including the step of folding the unslit area along a line extending parallel to and spaced from said first line and forming an uninterrupted and slit-free first folded edge extending between opposite edge portions of the sheet material and spaced from all slits in the sheet material,

advancing the sheet material with said uninterrupted and slit-free folded edge leading,

engaging said continous uninterrupted and slitfree folded edge with register stops to register the material at a second folding station, and

creating a second fold at right angles to said continuous unslit first transverse folded edge while said continuous unslit first transverse folded edge is maintained against the register stops.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further including forming a second transverse row of short closely spaced parallel slits in the sheet material the ends of which lying on a second line transverse to the direction of advance of the material which second line is parallel to said first line and which is located adjacent said unslit area, and wherein the step of forming the continuous fold comprises the step of folding the sheet material in the unslit area between the first and second transverse lines.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the slits in the first and second transverse rows are staggered with respect to each other so that the slits on one side of the unslit area are located in the space between the slits on the other side of the unslit area. 

1. A method of producing a multi-page sheet material product comprising the steps of: advancing unslit sheet material to a slitting station, forming a first transverse row of short, closely spaced parallel slits in the sheet material, which slits are angled to the direction of advance of the sheet material with first ends of the slits in the material lying on a first line transverse to the direction of advance of the material, leaving a longitudinally extending unslit area adjacent the first tranverse line, forming a continuous fold in the unslit area of the sheet material closely adjacent to and spaced from the first ends of the slits, said step of forming a continuous fold including the step of folding the unslit area along a line extending parallel to and spaced from said first line and forming an uninterrupted and slit-free first folded edge extending between opposite edge portions of the sheet material and spaced from all slits in the sheet material, advancing the sheet material with said uninterrupted and slitfree folded edge leading, engaging said continous uninterrupted and slitfree folded edge with register stops to register the material at a second folding station, and creating a second fold at right angles to said continuous unslit first transverse folded edge while said continuous unslit first transverse folded edge is maintained against the register stops.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 further including forming a second transverse row of short closely spaced parallel slits in the sheet material the ends of which lying on a second line transverse to the direction of advance of the material which second line is parallel to said first line and which is located adjacent said unslit area, and wherein the step of forming the continuous fold comprises the step of folding the sheet material in the unslit area between the first and second transverse lines.
 3. A method as dEfined in claim 2 wherein the slits in the first and second transverse rows are staggered with respect to each other so that the slits on one side of the unslit area are located in the space between the slits on the other side of the unslit area. 